Vented container



May 15, 1934. w. w. HODGSON VENTED CONTAINER Filed March 20, 1933 Patented May 15, 1934 PATENT OFFICE;

VEN TED CONTAINER William W. Hodgson,

Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 20,

1 Claim.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in vented containers, and more particularly the construction of the container end forming the vent hole and in the region adjacent thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide a container end with a vent hole formed by a splitting of the metal from a center point radially outward therefrom and the bending of the V-shaped portions formed thereby downwardly, and with a depression surrounding the hole and forming a confining recess and support for the solder seal when applied thereto.

In the drawing Figure l is a view showing in section and more or less diagrammatically the method of forming the improved vented container end;

Fig. 2 is a view showing a container embodying the improvements with the venthole open and prior to the sealing of the container by closing the opening;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the container end and the opening in the center thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a solder plug filling the opening and the depression surrounding the vent hole;

Fig. 4a is a view showing a portion of the end and indicating in broken lines the hole, the point where the metal is first penetrated, and the slits made in the metal during the forming of the hole;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a container end having the vent hole and depression formed therein, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the punch which forms the vent hole.

The invention has to do with a vented container, that is, a container having a vent hole in the end thereof through which the container may be filled or through which a vacuum may be drawn on the container, which vent hole is adapted to be sealed by the application of solder which forms a plug closing the hole. The vent hole is preferably first formed in the end and this is done by a punch having a tapered end terminating in a penetrating point. The end is shaped so as to provide spaced radially extending V- shaped cutting edges. The end in which the hole is to be formed is placed on a supporting die having an opening therein, and as the punch descends, the point will rupture the metal and then will cut the metal along radial lines, turning the v-shaped portions formed progressively downwardly and finally placing the same in substan- 1933, Serial No. 661,822

tially vertical positions and producing a round hole. The slits formed between the portions which are turned down terminate at the edge of the hole. After the hole is formed, a die moving down on the punch forms a depression in the end which surrounds the hole and extends outwardly therefrom for a slight distance. To this end, the die on which the end is supported is provided with a suitable recess, and the die surrounding the punch has a projecting portion which forces the end into the recess. This completes the formation of the vent hole in the end and the depression surrounding the same.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, there is shown a container which includes a body portion 1 having an end 2 attached thereto. In the form shown, the end has a depending flange 3 which receives the body portion, and this flange is soldered to the body portion. The end 2 has an embossed panel 4 formed therein. This end before it is attached to the container body, is placed on a supporting die 5 having a central opening 6 therein surrounded by a depression '7. This supporting die 5 is dimensioned so as to extend into the panel portion 4 of the end and contacts with the lower face thereof. Associated with the supporting die 5 is a forming die 8. This forming die 8 has a central opening therein in which a punch 9 is movably mounted. This punch 9 is tapered at its lower end and is formed with a penetrating point 10 and also with flat sides producing cutting edges 11. These cutting edges 11, as shown in the drawing, are five in number, and they are equally spaced from each other and extend in an upward outward radial direction of the punch 9. The punch first contacts with the container end and the point 10 will penetrate the metal at a point indicated at 12 in Fig. 4a. The cutting edges of the punch will cut the metal along the radial lines 13 substantially to the extreme diameter of the hole that is to be formed, while hole is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4a, at 14. The V- shaped portions 15 between the radial cutting lines 13 will be turned down progressively, as they are formed, until they are placed in substantially a vertical position, as the rounded section of the punch at its maximum diameter passes down through the end. The slits between the V-shaped portions, as has already been noted, terminate at the circumference of the vent holet which is indicated at V in Fig. 5 of the drawing. While the punch is in the hole in the end, the forming die 8 moves down, bringing the die shaping portion 16 thereof into contact with the end in the region around the hole V, and the depression 17 is formed. The metal in the depression is forced down into contact with the surface 18 of the supporting die 5. This pressing of the metal against the supporting portion 18 at the region of the ends of the slits formed by the punch closes minute cracks or fissures at the ends of the slits, so that when a sealing solder plug is applied, the opening will be sealed all the way to the ends of any crevices" or fissures remaining open in the region of the hole. This completes the end, the vent hole and the depression surrounding the same, the outer limits of the depression being some distance away from the slits formed between the V-shaped por-. tions. The depression formed in the end aids in the filling of the container. The filling machine is provided with a filling nipple and a porcelain member surrounding the same which contacts with the can end. When this is brought down into contact with the can end, it centers the can end beneath the filling nipple so that the nipple will pass into the vent hole. After the can is filled, or after the can has been vacuumized, if this is the purpose for which the vented can is used, then it is sealed by tipping, that is, by the applying of solder to close the vent hole. In Fig. 4 of the drawing, the solder is indicated at 19. The molten solder is fed into the depression 17 and contacting with the metal Will cool and unite with metal and build up a solder plug which completely closes the opening. The completed solder plug as clearly shown'in Fig. 4, is, in general, shaped like a rivet. It has a head portion 20 and a depending neck portion 21 following around the curved inner faces of the V-shaped projections, so that the solder is firmly held in said vent hole and depression. Furthermore; the depression restricts or. confines the solder, preventing it from flowing over the end in an attempt to find and close the opening. Furthermore, the solder necessary to close the opening may be completely beneath the plane of the panel portion 4, so that in handling the cans, the solder is protected from blows or any disturbance which may break the seal. The solder flowing over the bottom wall of the depression covers the end well back from the ends of the slits forming the V-shaped members, so that the slits and crevices and fissures at the ends thereof are fully covered and sealed.

The invention as shown in the drawing, is applied to a can which is used for milk products.

It is understood, of course, that the invention may be applied to other types of cans, and to can ends which are double-seamed to the can body.

I It is obvious that minor changes in the shaping of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit-of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, isr A container including an end provided with a depression centrally thereof of slightly greater depth than the thickness of the metal and with the bottom wallof said'depression sloping downward toward the center thereof, with a vent hole located centrally of said depression and formed by a splitting of the metal from a center point and radially outward therefrom and the bending of the V-shaped portion formed thereby into substantially vertical portions, and a solder seal bonded to said end and closing said hole and forming a headed portion lying wholly within the depression and extending to the outer limits thereof whereby any splitting of the metal leading outwardly from the vent hole will be covered and sealed. 7

WILLIAM W. HODGSON. 

